The more I practice and teach yoga, the more I realize that this ancient art and science really is about a lot more than just pretty poses and a healthy body. These things reel us in, but they are just the first steps toward a clearer mind and a more balanced life.
When I started my yoga practice ten years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life. I was burned out from my career, uncertain about the relationship I was in, and had gained twenty pounds from a decade without exercise. I was very unhappy with the direction I was headed.
One day, on a whim, I walked into a yoga studio, and before I realized what was going on, I had signed up for "10 classes in 10 days". That first class kicked my butt so badly that I actually left before it was over, and vowed never to return.
But over the next few days, a strange thing happened. I felt relaxed and cleansed for the first time in longer than I could remember. Plus, I had already paid for the whole ten days. I decided to go back. After surviving the second class, I was hooked. I went on to tell everyone how yoga was changing my life"!
Sound familiar? My story is like so many others. It's not a cliche, but a universal experience that so many of us have. Yoga finds us when we don't know where else to turn, and brings us back to a vibrant, meaningful life.
Now, being on the mat is almost a daily ritual for me. Yoga is where I find refuge, discipline, a sense of balance, and a connection with my deeper self. And being part of a loving yoga community is just as important.
I started teaching in 2002, and my hope is to facilitate others on their own yoga journeys. See you in class.
